Colorado Springs News, Sports & Business

FESTIVAL: Oktoberfest will camp out at The Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs

you lift your cold stein of beer to your parched lips in the 800-person tent at Colorado Springs Oktoberfest this weekend, remember why you're there: To celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in Munich on Oct. 17, 1810. No? You're just there to...

No? You're just there to drink cold beer and eat bratwurst? That's fine, too. The second Colorado Springs Oktoberfest is Friday through Sunday at The Citadel mall.

"It's fun. It's something families, couples and groups of friends can go to," says event founder John O'Donnell, "and sit around a table in the day, eat good food, drink a cold beer and dance, and get some German culture."

It's the first time The Citadel has hosted the event. Last year's party was held at Security Service Field, O'Donnell says, but they wanted to hold it in a more central location for this years celebration. Look for it in the northeast parking lot, near Burlington Coat Factory. About 7,000 people attended last year's event, and O'Donnell is prepared for a bigger crowd this weekend. He ordered 140 kegs of beer, up from 90 last year, and has three German concessionaires coming to sell food.

"We went through 6,000 to 7,500 brats and schnitzels last year," he says, "and several hundred pounds of sauerkraut and a thousand German pretzels."

Weiner dog races, 22 hours of German music by Denver's Primetime Band and more chicken dancing than you've ever dreamed of will fill the gaps between sips of beer.